To Keep or Not to Keep: Chris Drury's First Round Draft Pick Dilemma

Should they, or shouldn’t they? Will they, or won’t they?

Everyone had an opinion on what was in their best interest as the New York Rangers were desperately striving to claim a berth in this year's playoffs. With their 7-3 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday, we now know they're the second team in franchise history, and only the 4th in NHL history, to miss the playoffs the year following winning the President's Trophy.

But there was another concern when it came to their flirtation with sneaking into the playoffs. Out of nowhere, the Pittsburgh Penguins entered the picture as the proud owners of a conditional first round draft pick that the Rangers shipped out in the J.T. Miller trade, and that Vancouver turned around and flipped to the Penguins to acquire Marcus Pettersson. No one ever really enjoys a love triangle, and as the Rangers fail to score with their paramour—the postseason—the question of what to do with their first round draft pick now hangs over their head.

The conditions on the pick are simple: If it’s the 14th pick or later in this year’s draft, the Penguins will automatically get it. But if the pick ends up in the top 13 this season the Rangers can elect to keep it and then send their unprotected 2026 first round pick to the Pittsburgh.

This has turned into a stressful and frightening situation for the team. Now officially eliminated from playoff contention, this decision could significantly affect their future. So, let’s examine each potential path the team can take and judge which direction is better.